God answered the prayers of the apostles and stretched out His hand to perform signs and wonders to the point that people even brought the sick out to the street so that Peter’s shadow might touch them. Everyone who came for healing got healing.

In that description we don’t see Peter going to all the sick to heal them. He’s willing to walk past someone sick, as was Jesus. But all brought to them for healing got healing, as with Jesus.

The early believers met in the outer court at the temple, but people were scared to join them there. However, they weren’t afraid to join their ranks, and multitudes come to Christ. The Scripture points out that men and women joined the church. A church should have a balance of men and women.

The religious rulers are jealous of the apostles, as they were of Jesus. The apostles are getting to be like Jesus.

They are arrested, but God has a different plan for them now. An angel lets them out of the prison and tells them to go speak in the temple, “words of this Life.” So they went and taught.

There is a lot of confusion at the prison in the morning, but the apostles were easy to find. They weren’t hiding. They were obeying God rather than man.

The high priest accuses them of intending to bring Jesus’ blood on them, laying the blame for His death on them. But those accusing Jesus before Pilate had said themselves, “His blood be upon us” (from Matt 27:24).

Peter, and I’m assuming he spoke for the group, boldly accuses the religious leaders of killing Jesus.

Peter says that Jesus came to give repentance and forgiveness. Those two go together. He also teaches that those who obey receive the Holy Spirit.

The apostles are beaten and they rejoice. They rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus. What’s your reaction to disrespect or being treated wrongly?

The response is rejoicing, not fear. They keep on teaching in the temple.